JPH0561585A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect and use various keyboards without changing a controller even after the entire information processor is completely designed. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard 6 is equipped with a storage part 6b to store an ID code peculiar for each kind of the keyboard 6. A controller 7 is equipped with a signal processor 7a provided with a variable memory 7c having a changeable program/data storage area, means to discriminate whether the IC code of the storage part 6b is changed or not and reload control means for the variable memory 7c. A main storage device 12 is provided to store plural programs/ data respectively adaptive for the various keyboards 6, and a control part 1 is provided to retrieve the program/data corresponding to the ID code transmitted from the signal processor 7a and to transmit the program/data to the signal processor 7a. Therefore, since the program/data corresponding to the ID code is retrieved and written in the variable memory 7c when the keyboard 6 is exchanged, the controller 7 itself is changed corresponding to the keyboard 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor having a keyboard device as an input operation means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a keyboard device comprises a keyboard in which key switches are arranged in a matrix, and a controller which outputs a key code signal corresponding to each key switch of this keyboard. And
There are multiple types of keyboards having different key matrix arrangements, and the controller is basically made to correspond to each type of keyboard in a one-to-one correspondence. Therefore, a normal code signal cannot be obtained when only the keyboard is replaced with another one and simply connected to the controller. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first controller C1 that is connected to the first keyboard K1 and outputs a normal key code signal SO is used as the second controller as shown in FIG. When the keyboard K2 is connected, the wrong key code signal SN is output,
On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
To the second controller C2 which is connected to and outputs a normal key code signal SO, as shown in FIG.
If the keyboard K1 is connected, the wrong key code signal SN will be output.

Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of discriminating switches externally connected to the controller are operated to switch to an operation mode suitable for a keyboard to be connected, or meticulous so that different key codes are not generated at the same key matrix position. Design the controller with caution, or store some information indicating the type of keyboard in advance by using some key switches of the keyboard as a storage unit, and the controller reads this information and selects the applicable table. It corresponds by means such as.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned countermeasures, once the design of the information processing device having the keyboard device consisting of the keyboard and the controller is completed, the keyboard of this information processing device is When exchanging with another kind of different one, for example, if you try to replace the old JIS method Kana keyboard with the new JIS method Kana keyboard, the designed information processing device main unit will be compatible with the new JIS method. It cannot be changed, so the keyboard and controller must be replaced as a set. Therefore, there is a problem that development efficiency is low and development cost and inventory management cost are high.

[0005] Therefore, it is a technical object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus which can be properly used while connecting a keyboard developed later to the already designed apparatus body without replacing the controller. It is a thing.

[0006]

The present invention has an information processing apparatus configured as follows as a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned object. That is, in an information processing apparatus including a keyboard device including a keyboard as an input unit and a controller that outputs a key code signal corresponding to each key switch of the keyboard, the keyboard is unique to each type of the keyboard. A variable memory having a changeable program / data storage area is provided in the controller while providing a storage unit for storing an ID code.
A signal processing device provided with means for detecting the ID code of the storage unit and determining whether or not the ID code has been changed; and means for controlling rewriting of the stored contents of the variable memory,
A storage device for storing a plurality of programs / data adapted to each of the various keyboards, and a program / data corresponding to an ID code input from the signal processing device are retrieved from the storage device and sent to the signal processing device. And a control unit.

[0007]

When the keyboard is replaced and connected to a different type, the ID code peculiar to the keyboard stored in the storage section of the keyboard is detected by the signal processing device of the controller, and the ID code is previously stored. It is determined that the ID code is different from the ID code of the connected keyboard, and this ID code is sent to the control unit.
The control unit retrieves the program / data corresponding to the input ID code from the storage device, reads the program / data, and transmits the program / data to the signal processing device. By rewriting and storing this program / data in the variable memory by the signal processing device, the controller is changed to the one adapted to the newly connected keyboard.

Therefore, various keyboards developed later can be properly connected to an information processing apparatus whose design has been completed without replacing the controller. Moreover, all that is required is to simply connect the keyboard to the controller, and the controller is then automatically modified to fit the keyboard.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a persol computer according to an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention, which comprises a central processing unit 1, a main storage unit 2, an external storage unit 3, a display unit 4 and a keyboard unit 5. The keyboard device 5 includes a keyboard 6 and a controller 7.

To simplify the description, the keyboard 6 includes a key switch matrix 6a and a storage section 6b in which an ID code unique to each type of the keyboard 6 is stored.
Is shown. The storage unit 6b may be configured by an IC such as a ROM, or may have a simple configuration in which a specific number of scan lines 8 and return lines 9 connected to the controller 7 are connected to each other.

The controller 7 comprises a signal processing device 7a, a fixed memory 7b, a variable memory 7c, a working memory 7d, a key code transmitting section 7e, a command / data receiving section 7f, a key scanning section 7g and a key return section 7h. ing. The variable memory 7c is composed of an EEPROM, a flash PROM, a non-volatile RAM or the like, and has a changeable program / data storage area. The fixed memory 7b is a non-volatile read-only storage device such as a mask ROM, which is used for key scanning, key code signal transmission, command / data reception, and update of a changeable program / data storage area of the variable memory 7c. Fixed programs / data such as are preset and stored. The work memory 7d is a rewritable memory such as a normal RAM and is used for multiple purposes. The signal processing device 7a controls the whole, and based on the program / data in the fixed memory 7b, the key scan unit 7g and the key return unit 7 are operated.
Signal processing for key scanning of the keyboard 6 is performed via h, and the key code receiving section 7e and the key code transmitting line 1 are also used.
0, a command / data receiving section 7f, and a command / data receiving line 11 are used to perform signal processing with the central processing unit 1 and further update the stored contents of the program / data storage area of the variable memory 7b. Signal processing for. In practical use, as the controller 7, a one-chip microcomputer in which ROM, RAM, EEPROM and many I / Os are integrated can be used.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The variable memory 7c of the controller 7 stores programs / data corresponding to the type of the connected keyboard 6. For example, when the old JIS type keyboard 6 is connected, programs / data corresponding to the old JIS type are stored. Now, a case where only the keyboard 6 is replaced with a new JIS type will be described. Central processing unit 1
When a keyboard initialization command (step S1) is issued from the controller 7 to the controller 7, the controller 7 drives the key scanning unit 7g and the key return unit 7h to store the keyboard stored in the storage unit 6b through the scan line 8 and the return line 9. Read the unique ID code (step S2)
At the same time, it is determined whether or not the read ID code has changed from the previous one (step S3). That is,
It is determined whether the keyboard 6 has been replaced. In this case, since the keyboard 6 has been replaced with the new JIS method, the process proceeds to step S4, and the read ID code is transmitted from the key code transmission section 7e to the central processing unit 1 through the key code transmission line 10 (step S4). The central processing unit 1 receives this ID code (step S5).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 1 receives the received ID
It is determined whether or not the code is a new one different from the previous code (step S6). In this case, since it is a new ID code, the program / data corresponding to this ID code is searched from the main storage device 2 or the external storage device 3 (step S7), and whether or not the required program / data exists. Is determined (step S8). If not found, an error display indicating that the keyboard 6 and the controller 7 are mismatched is displayed on the display device 4 (step S14), and the operation of the personal computer itself is stopped (step S15).

On the other hand, if the program / data corresponding to the new ID code is found, the central processing unit 1 sends the new program / data to the controller 7 (step S9), and the command / data of the controller 7 is sent to this. After being received by the signal processing device 7a through the receiving unit 7f (step S10), this program / data is updated and newly written in the variable memory 7c (step S11). When the transmission of all programs / data is completed, the controller 7 corresponds to the newly connected keyboard 6 of the new JIS system, and thereafter, by operating the keys, a key code signal adapted to the operation key is generated. The data is sent from the controller 7 to the central processing unit 1 and the normal operation (steps S12 and S13) is performed. If the keyboard 6 is not changed, NO is determined in step S3 and normal operation (step S1
If the keyboard 6 is replaced with a new one of the same type by performing step 2), NO is determined in step S6 and normal operation (step S13) is performed.

[0015]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is only necessary to develop a single general-purpose controller that can be connected to all information processing apparatuses such as personal computers with the same interface. Various keyboards developed later can be properly connected to the information processing apparatus after completion of design through the same controller. Therefore, it is not necessary to develop a controller for each keyboard, and development efficiency is significantly improved.
In addition, inventory management becomes easy and a remarkable economic effect can be obtained. Moreover, it is only necessary to connect the keyboard to the controller, and since the controller is automatically changed to fit the keyboard, the controller can be changed accurately.

Further, it is possible to easily cope with the case where a key is added in the POS register of multi-product type or when it is desired to change the correspondence between the key position and the key code. Further, in the case where the character as a dedicated machine is strengthened by an application program like a handy terminal, the OPT / ROM (On
If it is composed of an element that can be written only once, such as an e Time Programmable ROM), there is an advantage that a large number of dedicated machines can be covered by production and inventory management of a single general-purpose model.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the same.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Central Processing Unit (Control Unit) 2, 3 Storage Device 5 Keyboard Device 6 Keyboard 6a Storage Unit 7 Controller 7a Signal Processing Device 7c Variable Memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising a keyboard device comprising a keyboard as an input means and a controller for outputting a key code signal corresponding to each key switch of the keyboard, wherein the keyboard is provided for each type of the keyboard. A storage unit for storing a unique ID code is provided, and a variable memory having a changeable program / data storage area is provided in the controller, and an ID code in the storage unit is detected to determine whether or not this has been changed. Means and a signal processing device having a means for controlling rewriting of the stored contents of the variable memory, and a storage device for storing a plurality of programs / data each adapted to each of the various types of board, and from the signal processing device. Input ID
An information processing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that retrieves a program / data corresponding to a code from the storage device and sends the program / data to the signal processing device.